Turkish police tear gas anti-government protesters

[retro]

Re: Turkish police tear gas anti-government protesters

"Turkish PM Erdogan, on return to Istanbul: Protests bordering on illegality, must end immediately - @AP"

[retro]

Re: Turkish police tear gas anti-government protesters

Turkey's prime minister took a combative stance on his closely watched return to the country early Friday, telling supporters who thronged to greet him that the protests that have swept the country must come to an end.

In the first extensive public show of support since anti-government protests erupted last week, more than 10,000 supporters cheered Recep Tayyip Erdogan with rapturous applause outside Istanbul's international airport.

Despite earlier comments that suggested he could be softening his stand, Erdogan delivered a fiery speech on his return from a four-day trip to North Africa. "These protests that are bordering on illegality must come to an end as of now," he said.

Tens of thousands of protesters have held demonstrations that have spread to dozens of cities across Turkey, sparked by the violent police reaction last Friday to what started out as a small protest against a plan to develop Istanbul's central Taksim Square.

Since then, three people have died -- two protesters and a policeman -- and thousands have been wounded. One protester is on life support in a hospital in Ankara.

Protesters from all walks of life have occupied Taksim Square and its park, objecting to what they say is Erdogan's increasingly autocratic and arrogant manner of governing -- charges he vehemently denies.

Erdogan's words were at times almost drowned out by his supporters. "God is Great," they chanted, and soon moved on to slogans referring specifically to the protesters in Taksim Square.

"Let us go, let us smash them," they shouted. "Istanbul is here, where are the looters?"

Erdogan had initially referred to the protesters as looters and troublemakers, while also acknowledging that excessive police force might have been used, and promising it would be investigated.

On his return to Istanbul, Erdogan's speech, delivered from atop an open-air bus outside the airport terminal, appeared at first to be an attempt to strike a unifying note.

"They say I am the prime minister of only 50 percent. It's not true. We have served the whole of the 76 million from the east to the west," he said at the airport, referring to his election win in 2011, when he took 50 percent of the vote.

"Together we are Turkey. Together we are brothers," he said, adding "We have never endeavored to break hearts. We are in favor of mending hearts."

But he soon became more combative.

"We have never been for building tension and polarization. But we cannot applaud brutality," he said.

In his last speech in Tunisia before flying to Istanbul, Erdogan had said that terrorist groups were involved in the protests, saying they had been identified.

In a twist, Erdogan implied that bankers were also part of a conspiracy that was fuelling the protests. He added that the fans of dissent had been fanned by other groups too.

"Those who call themselves journalists, artists, politicians, have, in a very irresponsible way, opened the way for hatred, discrimination and provocation," he said.

Speaking before Erdogan's return, Koray Caliskan, professor of political science and international relations at Bosporus University, pointed out that the prime minister was maintaining a hard line because "until now Erdogan had always gained support by increasing the tension in the country."

"Turkey is absolutely at a crossroads. Erdogan won't be able to point at Turkey as a model of democracy anymore," he said.

In his earlier comments in Tunisia, Erdogan acknowledged that some Turks were involved in the protests out of environmental concerns, and said he had "love and respect" for them.

Turkey's main stock market revealed the fears that Erdogan's comments would do little to defuse the protesters, with the general price index plunging by 8 percent after his comments on concerns that continuing unrest would hit the country's economy.

Over the past week the demonstrations have spread to 78 cities, growing into public venting of what protesters perceive to be Erdogan's increasing arrogance. That includes attempts to impose what many say are restrictive mores on their personal lives, such as how many children to have or whether to drink alcohol.

So far, 4,300 people have been hurt or sought medical attention for the effects of tear gas during the protests, the Turkish Human Rights Foundation said. One person is on life support in Ankara.

Interior Minister Muammer Guler said more than 500 police officers had been injured. A total of 746 protests had erupted, causing some 70 million Turkish Lira ($37 million) in damages, he said. Nearly 80 protesters were still hospitalized, and almost all detained protesters had been released.

http://www.newsday.com/news/world/erdogan-calls-for-end-to-turkey-protest-1.5425316

[Mher]

Re: Turkish police tear gas anti-government protesters

What does everyone see as s potential result of the situation in Turkey and possible benefits/consequences of that result for Armenia?

Have the protests grown in recent days and do they seem sustainable or of having the potential to topple the government?

I think as far as Armenia is concerned a more democratic and progressive Turkey would be beneficial in creating less hostility and being more open to discussing and admitting to the Genocide.

[Haykakan]

Re: Turkish police tear gas anti-government protesters

That is exactly what we thought when the young turks came to power.

What does everyone see as s potential result of the situation in Turkey and possible benefits/consequences of that result for Armenia?

Have the protests grown in recent days and do they seem sustainable or of having the potential to topple the government?

I think as far as Armenia is concerned a more democratic and progressive Turkey would be beneficial in creating less hostility and being more open to discussing and admitting to the Genocide.

[Mher]

Re: Turkish police tear gas anti-government protesters

That is exactly what we thought when the young turks came to power.

True I didn't consider that
Either way though, I think it's undeniable that Erdogan has be a strong leader for the Turks. He might be a racist barbaric piece of sh*t of a human being, but as far as what's best for Turkey, I think it's clear, he has been the best for Turkey. So any unrest or conflict in turkey that weakens its economy, or its tourism, or leads to Erdogan's resignation is good for Armenia

[Haykakan]

Re: Turkish police tear gas anti-government protesters

He is not good for anyone and has lost a lot of political strength now because of what is going on. What is best for Turkey and what is best for Armenia do not need to be in direct contradiction. Facing up to the past and dealing with the present will make both Turkey and Armenia stronger. There is a creeping authoritarianism all over the "free world" and it is in preparation for something very hideous. It will be so bad that these governments are taking steps to kill and imprison their own people.(NDAA etc..)

True I didn't consider that
Either way though, I think it's undeniable that Erdogan has be a strong leader for the Turks. He might be a racist barbaric piece of sh*t of a human being, but as far as what's best for Turkey, I think it's clear, he has been the best for Turkey. So any unrest or conflict in turkey that weakens its economy, or its tourism, or leads to Erdogan's resignation is good for Armenia

[retro]

Re: Turkish police tear gas anti-government protesters

He is not good for anyone and has lost a lot of political strength now because of what is going on.

While the scale of these protests will worry the Turkish regime. Erdogan can depend upon his Islamist base and I'd say that he is secure for now. If anything the writing is on the wall for the wannabe European, so-called "secular" Turks.

Pick your poison Armens, Genocidal Kemalists or Genocidal Islamists.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Turkish police tear gas anti-government protesters

I spent Sunday afternoon and evening wandering around the Taxim protest site. Astonishing and breathtaking are the initial words to describe it.

It covers a VAST area. The number of people there during daytime was immense. After the first 50,000 its becomes difficult to estimate the numbers. I'd sat at least 150,000 people were there. Maybe a quarter of a million, if the whole day is counted (there is a constant stream of arrivals and departures - large groups arriving congratulate the departing groups by clapping and cheering). And I'd not dismiss an even higher figure than that (half a million?). They were all ages, though mostly young - 20s, 30s - and about 40% were women. There were no police visible anywhere, not even on the approaches to the square or hidden away up backstreets.

Everyone is taking pictures - and posing for them in front of certain iconic spots like they were tourist attractions. And that was the overall atmosphere, that it was an enormous festival or something. Beer is being drunk, and sold, openly, the drinking of it being seen as part of the protest. There are a number of foreign reporters there now, but still little in the way of reporting on Turkish TV - cartainly nothing that captures the scale of it (which is probably deliberate). The Ataturk cultural center, a huge multistory structure, is draped with protest banners, with diminutive-looking figures visible on the roof line, waving flags. There are some burnt-out TV broadcasting vans still there from the initial violence - and abandoned earthmoving equipment that has been painted pink. I stayed until about 10pm. I may go back in a later hour tonight to see what it is like later at night.

I'll sort through some of the photos I took and post some of them later.

[retro]

Re: Turkish police tear gas anti-government protesters

Mr Cat

Islamism was always going to open the door to Fascism.

[Mher]

Re: Turkish police tear gas anti-government protesters

He is not good for anyone and has lost a lot of political strength now because of what is going on. What is best for Turkey and what is best for Armenia do not need to be in direct contradiction. Facing up to the past and dealing with the present will make both Turkey and Armenia stronger. There is a creeping authoritarianism all over the "free world" and it is in preparation for something very hideous. It will be so bad that these governments are taking steps to kill and imprison their own people.(NDAA etc..)

without a doubt what's good for turkey doesn't necessarily have to be bad for Armenia
a progressive and truly democratic turkey is bound to be good for Armenia
Unfortunately, "progression" under Erdogan can only be bad for Turkey. That's because turkish progression under erdogan means military and economic growth, with regression in terms of democracy, therefore being able to terrorize and plunder its neighbors and minorities without any reprisal.